MLB Free Pick: Braves vs Nationals Betting Lines

Welcome to our MLB free pick featuring the Atlanta Braves hosting the Washington Nationals in the rubber match of a three game set. The betting lines for this contest are courtesy of the sportsbook at the Bodog online sports betting website. We love this pitching match-up today!

MLB Free Pick: Braves vs Nationals Betting Lines: As so eloquently song by Meatloaf, two out of three ain’t bad! Cole Hamels and the Phillies let us down yesterday as they got hammerd 11-2 by the New York Mets. We did capitalized on the great pitching match-ups to win with the Yankees and Angels, and we have another great pitching match-up today!

This matinee Major League Baseball betting action is scheduled for Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 1:35 PM ET from Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nationals @ Braves: MLB Game Day Preview

Washington and Atlanta play the rubber game of this three game series after the Braves pounded out an 11-1 win on Friday while the Nationals posted a 5-2 victory yesterday. This is the ninth match-up of the 2011 MLB season between this two clubs and the overall series sit at four wins apiece.

RHP Jair Jurrjens (12-3 1.87 ERA) had an amazing first half and he gets the start for the Braves today. In Jurrjens 12 wins this season, Atlanta has out scored their opponents by a 62-16 margin. The Braves plan is pretty simple when their ace is on the hill; get seven or so strong innings out of him and then hand it over to one of the best bullpens in baseball.

Washington counters with LHP Tom Gorzelanny (2-6 3.94 ERA) who hasn’t won since he pitched seven strong innings (two runs on two hits) against the Florida Marlins back on May 7, 2011. In his last outing, Gorzelanny went seven innings and gave up four runs in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs. The road has not been kind to Gorzelanny as he is sporting a 1-5 record (4.89 ERA) away from Washington this season.

MLB Betting Odds: Atlanta vs. Washington Free Pick

The bookmakers obviously love this pitching match up as well as the point spread, across the board, heavily favors the Braves. We scanned today’s MLB schedule, and while we saw a couple intriguing contests, none stood out like this one.

A look at the National League East shows Atlanta sitting 3.5 games back of the Philadelphia Phillies while the Nationals have slumped to 11.5 games out of the division lead.

Washington, who owns a 19-29 road record, has to contend with one of the nastiest pitchers in the majors today. We don’t see things going very well for them in this one.

Take the Braves over the Nationals at -1.5 (+115) with Bodog Point Spread!